Renovation mistakes to avoid — part two

This week will continue on from last week’s theme about tips to consider when renovating to avoid unnecessary mistakes, to help keep you moving in the right direction toward a successful renovation.

Further to the recommendations about making sure you do your homework and prep work, hiring the right contractor for your project and knowing your own limitations in terms of when to do-it-yourself and when to hire a contractor, this week we will look at the importance of setting a budget and planning the demolition before you start — two very important considerations.

Set a realistic budget

When you sit down to create your budget, think of it from a realistic perspective. Are you doing the renovation yourself or hiring a professional? No matter what the size of your budget, always plan for the unexpected and add about 15 to 20 per cent of your budget to the bottom line.

This is typically referred to as a contingency fund. For example, what happens if there are things that you find once you open up a wall that you weren’t anticipating?

By planning for the unexpected, you won’t find your budget compromised if you need those added funds and it allows you the flexibility once the renovation starts.

Demolition Done Right

Before you go ahead and start gutting everything out of your home, create a plan that works with your timelines. We often get excited and sometimes overzealous when it comes to renovating and can often overestimate our time and abilities. If you are doing the work yourself, and staying in the house while renovating, think about the impact that tearing all of the bathrooms out will have on your family if you don’t have plumbing for a period of time. Not typically a great idea.

Also, if we gut everything and haven’t anticipated the ‘what-ifs’ that can happen once your renovation starts, it can get overwhelming very quickly. Plan ahead and be realistic about what can truly be accomplished in your available time. It will all get done and most likely with less confusion if you plan.

Renovating is a rewarding process as you watch your home transformed into a space that works for your family’s lifestyle and taste. Planning ahead on everything from timelines to budgets, although not always everyone’s favourite thing to do, will make it so much easier in the long term. For more information on renovating or to find a professional renovator of the Nova Scotia Home Builders’ Association visit www.nshomebuilders.ca.